RESULTS OF A THREE-YEAR STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CARBOHYDRATE RESTRICTION IN REDUCING SALIVARY LACTOBACILLUS COUNTS

¹ College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Of specimens from 559 individuals examined for active dental caries as indicated by counts of oral lactobacilli, 137 individuals were found to be caries inactive, and 422 caries active. Of the caries-active, 216 successfully completed Plan I of the dietary treatment. Of these, 138 have so far completed the course of treatment ninety-five of these finishing with low lactobacillus counts. Twenty-four of the ninety-five had been examined six months later, and twenty-one had retained low counts. Eight of these twenty-one had been examined after one year following treatment, and seven of these had retained low counts. One individual was examined after two years following dietary treatment and the count was low. These results compare favorably with those recently presented by Jay.